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Based in Los Angeles, Josh and Rafi of FORM Design Studio are at the forefront of modern, sustainable living, but still take time to appreciate the allure of the Old Hollywood glamour in their city. Don’t forget to check out our collaboration with FORM after you read about their go-to spots in LA!

Where to Stay

Favorite Hotel:Château Marmont, because classic is always “in.” The Château, as it is called, offers a taste of Hollywood at its finest. For locals, this is a picturesque and quiet spot to meet friends for a drink, a meal, or some people watching.

Where to Eat and Drink

Casual Dining: This is a toss-up between Din Tai Fung in Arcadia and Mozza in Hollywood.

Mozza

Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese dumpling house. We must confess, it is a chain, but the dumplings are made in-house and by hand (you can watch from the huge window that looks into the kitchen). There is something so clean about this food; you can taste every ingredient in each dumpling. The simplicity is what makes it so special. It’s now become a phenomenon, so line up early!

At another end of the culinary spectrum, there is the marvel that is Pizzeria Mozza, the brainchild of partners Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich. This place is the distillation of the best parts of each of the owners’ talents. If you are in Los Angeles and you want to challenge the wisdom that the best pizza in America is in New York, give it a shot. Neither of us eats dairy or wheat, but we eat pizza at Mozza.

Orsa & Winston delicacies

Fine Dining: Our favorite upscale restaurant is a small spot that has recently wriggled its way into our hearts: Orsa & Winston. The degustation menu is ever-changing depending on the available fresh ingredients (and in Los Angeles, the parameters are as broad as they come). The food is magnificently conceived and deftly offered and the service is impeccable. The wine pairing is “just so,” working seamlessly and symbiotically with the chef’s creations. This is a great date spot.

Favorite Bar: This is an easy one: Augustine Wine Bar. This gem is in Sherman Oaks and it has become our go-to for all things celebratory. Not only is the food spectacular (you can expect anything from a simple plate of artisanal charcuterie, to a beautifully charred octopus or a perfect duck confit), but the wine offerings are remarkable. What these guys are doing is offering really wonderful, vintage wines by the glass in a super sexy setting to a wide variety of wine enthusiasts. We have had warm, intimate evenings together there as well as raucous nights, meeting some real characters at the bar. The staff is knowledgeable, kind (we’ve made good friends), and always ready to chat about the more esoteric experiences one can find in the bottle.

What to See

The Getty Center

Our favorite museum in LA is The Getty Center. The never-ending parade of world class exhibits that move through The Getty are not to be missed, but the permanent collection is of extraordinary merit itself. The grounds are breathtaking along with the structures themselves, which were designed by Richard Meier. The museum is, purportedly, the world’s largest installation of travertine. With its fountains, sculptures, and gardens, The Getty offers visitors more than one could absorb in a day. The restaurant there is one of the most civilized locations in all of Los Angeles, drawing much more of NY crowd than anything else and the view at sunset is something to write home about.

Huntington Gardens

We would say that in the “attraction” category, there is no better place than the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. Being there is like slipping into Alice’s Wonderland! If you weren’t a botanophile (we are having some debate as to whether or not that is a word) before visiting, you certainly will be afterwards.

Thank you for sharing your Los Angeles favorites with us, Josh and Rafi!

Where are your favorite destinations to visit in Los Angeles or other cities around the world? Discover our Jet Set Collectionto inspire your next trip and use the #DestinationDempsey hashtag on social media to share your travels.

New York-based destination event planner Cristina Verger is an expert at creating the most memorable events all over Italy and beyond. Dempsey & Carroll’s Austin Ackles asked Cristina to let us in on the very best places to hang our hats in her beloved birthplace, Rome!

Where to Stay

Hassler Roma: Located at the top of the Spanish Steps with phenomenal views, Hotel Hassler Roma positions you a short distance from the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Vatican, and countless other treasures.

Where to Eat and Drink

Coffee breaks:Sant’Eustachio Il Caffe has the best coffee in Rome! Located between Piazza Navona and The Pantheon, this café opened in 1938 and the beans are roasted right on the premises.

Yugo Fusion

Sant Eustacchio

For a quick bite to eat: Refreshing, pure and modern, Yugo Fusion, is a delight to the palette as much as it is to the eye.

Fine Dining: Tucked away down a side street near the Pantheon and intimately designed, La Rosetta has earned its irrefutable reputation by perfectly preparing the freshest fish and seafood caught daily.

Harry’s Bar

La Rosetta

Drinks:As seen in Fellini’s classic 1960 film, La Dolce Vita, Harry’s Bar is a must for a reviving cocktail with a little celebrity spotting on the side.

What to See

Borghese Gallery:This is an extremely tough one to choose because all of Rome is an open air museum. Originally built by Architect Flaminio Ponzio as a Villa Suburbana for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, you can get your fill of masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio, Titian, and more.

Thank you for sharing your Rome favorites, Cristina!

Where are your favorite destinations to visit in Rome or other cities around the world? Discover our Jet Set Collection to inspire your next trip and use the #DestinationDempsey hashtag on social media to share your travels.

We’ve had a lot of fun in the office sharing stories about how we enjoyed our July 4th holiday weekends. From overseas, to right here in New York, Dempsey & Carroll knows how to make the most out of any destination!

Where are your favorite destinations to visit for holiday weekends? Discover our Jet Set Collection to inspire your next trip and use the #DestinationDempsey hashtag on social media to share your travels!

Rockaway Beach

My holiday was spent right here in sleepy New York City hanging out in the parks and strolling the river fronts. I live on the Lower East Side so it’s a quick jaunt down to the Seaport to hop on the new ferry to Rockaway Beach. The breezes were delightful and only a few oyster catchers were our nearest neighbors. – Austin

Park Guell, Barcelona

Sailing off the coast of Barcelona

One of the most mesmerizing experience was to sail the Mediterranean Sea while watching the sunset along the cost of Barcelona—a must do for anyone visiting this breathtaking part of Spain. I also think that strolling through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is eye opening and very enjoyable for art lovers. While walking through the Gothic Quarter, you might find yourself eating at a food blogger’s all-time favorite spot ‘Flax & Kale’ or shopping at Love Vintage. I learned that regardless of what you have planned for your day, Barcelona is a city full of gorgeous little surprises. ​- Umara

Over the holiday weekend my family and I drove to see the beautiful scenery along the Hudson River. We ended our site seeing adventure looking towards Storm King Mountain– It was one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. I felt like I had traveled to a completely different world. I always love exploring New York State and photographing my journeys! – Ariel

4th of July Sparklers

I enjoyed a stellar weekend with my family on Cape Cod. We were primarily in a town called Brewster, but also took a day trip to Provincetown. There was plenty of swimming, fishing, grilling, and sparklers to celebrate the 4th of July holiday! – Megan

Destination: London

Rooftop Pimm’s Cups

The London Eye

It’s always nice to spend a few days in London. The weather was unseasonably warm for my visit, which was a delightful treat! I visited a few of my favorite parks – Green Park in St. James (such a cute area) and Regent’s Park. Queen Mary’s rose garden was in bloom, which was a really rare to see. We did a ton of eating, too! Nopi in Soho was great for lunch and we had some wonderful dinners at The Wolseley, Luca, and Barrafina. The new Barrafina location in Soho is a lot bigger than the Drury Lane location, so it was pretty easy to get a seat – plus it’s really fun to eat snacks and have a few cocktails at the counter as you wait for a seat to pop up. Selfridges also had a great Wimbledon themed bar on their roof while we were in town. It was a nice way to break up the day – a Pimm’s Cup and Andy Murray on a roof in Mayfair – not bad! – Carolyn

Herbert Brook on Mt. Marshall

Adirondack Chairs on the porch

View of Mt. Colden from Flowed Lands

There’s nothing like heading out of the city for a holiday weekend to enjoy the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York. I grew up in the area, so it’s always a treat to hike in the High Peaks with my family and friends and then kick back with craft beer from Ausable Brewing Company after a long day on the trails. There’s also a charming Farmers Market every Sunday at Marcy Airfield in Keene Valley, where you can find purchase fruits and vegetables, freshly baked bread, and a variety of local goods. The drive to Keene Valley on Route 9N has the most breathtaking views as you head to The Garden, which is main trailhead for the Johns Brook area. – Emma